Friday, September 10, 2010

New York Publishing Social Diary

I write today in quite a depressed state, because it's after Labor Day and our summer hours are officially over. My brain is conditioned to shut down at 1 p.m. on Fridays, and it's now 3:22 and reserves are draining...so I'm trying to distract myself by thinking of all the wonderful events that are scheduled for this weekend and next week. Thanks to Jess, we already know that it's the Brooklyn Book Festival this weekend, which is quite a highlight of the publishing year. There are events all day on Sunday, so check out their website to see when you can catch people like the Pauls (Krugman and Auster), John Ashbery, Lan Samantha Chang, Rosanne Cash, Mark Doty, Jennifer Egan , Naomi Klein, Mary Gaitskill, David Rakoff, and Gary Shteyngart (to name but just a few). And even if you don't go to an event, you can still peruse the offerings of numerous indie bookstores and presses, as well as publications, who all set up shop in Columbus Park.

There are several events tonight and tomorrow to kick off the festival, some of which Jess did mention yesterday. But, to recap:

FRIDAY

The Brooklyn Indie Party at Greenlight Bookstore. It's a celebration of independent presses in Brooklyn, with everyone from Akashic to Archipegalo to Tin House to BOMB. Enjoy some free drinks and spinning by a variety of DJs while admiring the amazing creativity of this southern borough. (686 Fulton St., at S. Portland Ave. 7:30 p.m.)

Literary Pub Contest run by PEN America. A literary quiz night run by an admirable and worthy organization (which holds its own festival every year in the spring). There will be authors competing with you, and PEN will provide everything you need. Just bring your your (literal) book smarts and prepare for a knock-out fight. (St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water St., 7–10 p.m.)

SATURDAY

Litquake, New York's Third Annual Lit Crawl. Modeled on San Francisco's famous lit crawl, this is a citywide celebration. Three different phases of partying throughout the evening promise a night of enjoyable mayhem. Head to landmarks like KGB for Harper Perennial's literary trivia contest, or the White Slab Palace to see NBCC reviewers acknowledge their harsh words and grovel for forgiveness. It all ends up with a Paris Review-hosted bash and an afterparty at Fontana's on Eldridge Street. DOES IT GET ANY HIPPER THAN THIS? (Check the website, http://litcrawl.org/, for a complete schedule and locations for different events)

Genre Busters at Freebird Books. This Brooklyn institution is hosting a revue show with artists and authors who work in a genre to turn it on its head. There will be tons of readings and performances, Q&A, trivia, and food! (Freebird Books & Goods, 123 Columbia St., 8 p.m)

On Sunday you can nurse your hangover at the festival...my head hurts already. Look for us, as we'll be passing out special [tk] reviews bookmark invitations to the best party of all - our very own bash on Thursday, September 16th, at High Dive in Park Slope! (I gotta promote it again because it's going to be JUST THAT AMAZING):

Quinquennial Mayhem (a celebration of Issue V)!

September is a magical month. The first crispness of autumn descends; we get a three-day weekend; and the world is full of children, with their innocent shining faces, galloping happily back to school. This year, however, we love September for another reason: it brings with it the FIFTH ISSUE of [tk] reviews!

To that end, please join us to celebrate our small but mighty milestone at Park Slope's High Dive bar on Thursday, September 16th . For those who speak the password – [tk] reviews – there will be $2 High Life drafts, $3 Yuengling drafts, and a dollar off all other drinksfrom 7 to 10 p.m. We’ll have reserved tables, and the more culinarily adept among us will be bringing food.